Megawati's request was related to a political struggle in which the distribution of roles in a government likely considered the political strength of each member of coalition parties," Indopolling's political analyst Wempy Hadir said on Thursday.
Speaking to ANTARA here, Wempy Hadir argued that incumbent President and President-elect Joko Widodo is the PDIP's cadre. "That is why, Megawati demands Jokowi for giving her party more cabinet posts than those of other parties," he said.
By having a real political power at both government and parliament, Megawati could implement her party's programs, he argued.
Megawati has bluntly requested more cabinet posts for her party's cadres in front of Jokowi during the opening ceremony of the PDIP's national congress taking place at the Inna Bali Beach Resort in Bali Island on Thursday.
The opening ceremony of this three-day congress was also attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party leader Prabowo Subianto, and Vice President-elect Ma'ruf Amin.
Megawati who is predicted to be reelected as the PDIP's top leader at this congress said she did not want her party to be just given four ministerial posts by considering the fact that it won the parliamentary elections for two times (2014 and 2019).
In response to Megawati's political move related to Jokowi's upcoming cabinet line-up, Chairman of the National Awakening Party's (PKB's) central executive board members Abdul Kadir Karding said PDIP's proposal was understandable and need not be challenged.
From the beginning, President-elect Jokowi has welcomed those from the coalition parties, civil society groups, and community figures, to give him inputs regarding the upcoming cabinet line-up, he said.
"The question is whether or not all proposed ministerial candidates will be accepted or there will be another consideration. This is indeed related to the president-elect's prerogative right," Karding argued.
Related news: Jokowi to form new cabinet for 2019-2024 period
Translator: Arnidhya NZ, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
